Window frame



g- 9 R. J. BUSH ETAL 2,898,643

WINDOW FRAME Filed April 26, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 (I "I! I, 6 /IZWII INVENTOR." Russell J. Bush BY, berfESare Fig.7 .i4...

Their Attorney Aug. 11, 1959 R. J. BUSH ETAL WINDOW FRAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 26, 1957 mh r y WWW m was m J. KM) x W M R United States Patent C WINDOW FRAME Russell J. Bush and Robert E. Sayre, Dayton, Ohio, as-

signors to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, M1ch., a corporation of Delaware Application April 26, 1957, Serial No. 655,393

"1 Claim. (Cl. 20-11) This invention relates to windows and more particularly to metal window frames and is a continuation-in-part of application SN. 546,585, filed November 14,195.

In the construction of buildings and other structures having windows, it has become wide spread practice to employ metal frames for supportin the windows. To eliminate the need for storm windows and the attending inconvenience of installing, removing and storing storm windows, it has also become a practice to employ permanently installed double pane windows. The panes of these windows are installed in a spaced relation whereby the relatively high insulating properties of the air occupying the space between the panes is advantageously utilized. When a double pane is supported within a metal frame, the advantages of the double pane are to some extent reduced by reason of the high heat transmission coefficient of the metal frame.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a window pane supported Within a metal frame wherein the frame comprises at least two spaced frame members which are joined and held in spaced relation by an insulating member. The glass panes are preferably attached to one or both frame members by means of elastomeric sealing strips. The frame members are preferably joined and supported in spaced relation by means of an insulating strip, preferably of elastomeric material, having enlarged top and bottom portions which are disposed respectively within opposed partially closed channel portions provided on the frame members.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation view of a window;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1 showing a frame and window structure made in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 3 is a frame joining strip;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the view shown in Figure 2;

Figures 5, 6 and 7 are other forms of a frame and window structure made in accordance with the present invention;

Figures 8 and 9 show another embodiment of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, the present invention, as shown in Figure 1, involves a frame and window construction, wherein a double window pane 10 is supported Within a metal frame 12 and is secured therein preferably by means of sealing strips 14 hereinafter more fully described.

Referring to Figure 2 the frame 12 consists of two portions 16 and 18 disposed side by side in spaced relation. The frame portions have inwardly directed continuous projections 20 and 22 to which glass panes 24 and 26 respectively may be attached by means of sealing strips 28 and 30 respectively. These sealing strips may be of the well 2,898,643 Patented Aug. 11, 1959 ICC known type disclosed in the Eichner Patent No. 2,189,138, the function of which is well known and which in itself forms no part of the present invention.

The frame portions 16 and 18 are each provided with facing partially closed opposed channel grooves 32 and 34. The grooves are partially closed preferably by means of inwardly directed portions or flanges 36 disposed at the top of the channel walls. A joining strip 38 having enlarged portions 40 and 42 and a connecting or web portion 44 is disposed between the frame members so that the enlarged portions 40 and 42 of the joining strip are disposed within the partially closed channels 32 and 34 and the web portion 44 extends through the channel openings integrally joining the enlarged portions 40 and 42. The enlarged portions 40 and 42 are preferably of a configuration whereby they Will substantially fill the partially closed channel portions 32 and 34. The enlarged portions 40 and 42 and the partially closed channels 32 and 34 are further of a configuration which will permit the inwardly directed projections 36 of the channels to securely retain the enlarged portions of strip 38 within the channels and thereby firmly join frame members 16 and 18 and provide a support for holding the frame members in a predetermined spaced relation. To this end the strip 38 is preferably made I shaped and the partially closed channels 32 and 34 are shaped to snugly receive these enlarged ends of the strip to engage the flange portions 36 of the channels whereby lateral movement of the frames is eifectively prevented.

The dimensions of strip 38 are made slightly smaller than the channel spaces in which the strip is inserted so that the strip may be readily inserted in place with or without lubrication and thereby facilitate assembly of the frame and panes. As may readily be understood a slight misalignment of the enlarged portions of the strip with respect to each other within the frame channel portions is effective in wedging the enlarged portions of the strip within the channel spaces so as to effectively hold the frame members in a predetermined spaced relation. The web or connecting portion 44 of strip 38 is made of a cross-sectional thickness and length so that in use the web 44 does not tend to buckle or otherwise distort. To secure optimum Web dimension for a given frame and window assembly it may readily be seen that the positioning of the channels with respect to the position of the window panes, and the depth of the channels, may be correspondingly adjusted.

Referring to Figure 4 the projecting members 46 and 48 may be joined to a Wall panel by means of a sealing strip of the type shown in Figure 6 (57) and is fully disclosed in copending application S.N. 494,858, new Patent No. 2,878,535, issued March 24, 1959, assigned to the assignee of the present invention whereby the frame members 46 and 48 are constantly urged together in an installed position, or by any suitable construction method. The base of the frame assembly, regardless of the method employed in securing it to a wall, will rest on a relatively rigid member so that after installation it is not necessary for the frame joining strip 38 to support the frame members 16 and 18 against vertical misalignment after the installation of the frame assembly in a wall.

As shown in Figure 5 the sealing strips 50 and 52 may be advantagously made of a hexagonal configuration and of sufficient thickness so that the flat surfaces 54 and 56 facing each are adjacent each other and provide an additional support for maintaining the frame members 16 and 18 and the glass panes in a desired spaced relation. This construction is particularly desirable where sealing strips of the type shown in Figure 6 are used to secure the frame construction to a wall wherein the sealing strip exerts considerably inwardly directed force on the frame members 46 and 48.

Figure 6 shows a sealing strip which may be used to secure to the frame member conventional double pane windows, which consist of apair of panes 54 and 56 held in spaced relation by a metallic strip 58 bonded to the panes. This sealing strip is fully disclosed in the copending application S.N. 494,858, now Patent No. 2,878,535, issued March 24, 1959, mentioned above.

Figure 7 shows another modification embodying the present invention wherein the glass panes 59 and 60 are supported within a single sealing strip 62. One of the frame members 64 is provided with an inwardly directed flange or projection 68 along the inner sides thereof. The projection 68 preferably is provided with bead-like portion 76 along the top thereof, which is inserted in a corresponding groove in the base of the seal 62 to lock the seal to frame member. In assemblying the frame and window, frame portions 64 and 66 are first aligned and the joining strip 38 is inserted in place thereby joining the frame members. Thereafter the sealing strip 62 is attached to the frame by inserting projection 68 in the corresponding groove in the base of the sealing strip.

The strip 62 is provided with a longitudinal rib or flange 72 which is interposed between the flange portions 36 of the channels to assist the connecting strip 38 in firmly supporting the frame members 64 and 66 in a desired spaced relation. Finally the window panes are inserted in place as is well known in the art whereby the compressive forces within the sealing strip crowd the rubber thereof into sealing engagement with the panes and frame members and effect a lock between proportion 68 and the seal strip 62.

It will be noted that the pane supporting sealing strips 50 and 52 of Figure and the pane supporting sealing strip 62 of Figure 7 cooperate with the connecting strip 38 in firmly supporting the frame members in spaced relation. Figures 8 and 9 show an embodiment which is similar to that shown in Figure 6 except that the connector strip 74 is provided with opposed ribs or flanges 76 and 78 integrally attached to the connecting rib 80 of the strip which in assembled relation are snugly interposed between the inwardly directed projections 36 of the opposed channel members to assist in firmly supporting the frame members in spaced relation. This type of connecting strip is preferably used in connection with the window pane supporting sealing strips shown in Figures 2 and 6 to provide these assembled constructions with a greater degree of rigidity.

The joining strips 38 or 74 may be molded or we truded preferably from any of the well known elastomeric 4 r materials such as natural rubber, butadiene-styrene copolymers, butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymers, polychloroprene suitable mixtures of these materials and other synthetic materials of a similar character. The essential requirements of suitable joining strip material is that it have good heat insulating properties, that a joining member made up from the material may be readily inserted between the frame members and into the attaching means employed, and that it have adequate strength and stability to maintain the frame members in a predetermined spaced relation during and after the installation of the frame members.

When lubrication is used to facilitate entry of the strip 38 into the frame members any of the well known lubricants such as soap or soap water may be used advantageously.

It is apparent that the frame constructions of the present invention may be advantageously used for supporting single or double Window panes or other panels.

While the embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, as may come within the scope of the claim which follows.

What is claimed is as follows:

A panel supporting frame assembly comprising in combination, first and second frame members in spaced relation adapted to support a panel, said frame members having partially closed channel portions longitudinally thereof facing each other, said facing channel portions including planar surfaces facing each other and an elongated elastomeric strip comprising enlarged portions integrally connected by a web, each of said enlarged portions being disposed interlockingly within a channel portion whereby the frame members are joined and supported in spaced relation solely by said elastomeric strip, said web having a rib integrally attached thereto snugly interposed between said planar surfaces cooperating with said enlarged portions for firmly supporting said frame members and for positively holding said members in spaced relation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 641,838 Cavanaugh Jan. 23, 1900 2,228,052 Gardner Jan. 7, 1941 2,228,363 Pinney Jan. 14, 1941 2,266,464 Kraft Dec. 16, 1941 2,599,811 Clerk June 10, 1952 

